NFL 2006 / NFC PREVIEW / Seahawks will soar, unfettered by 49ers

Nancy Gay, Chronicle Staff Writer

Published
4:00 am PDT, Tuesday, September 5, 2006

Seattle Seahawks' Jordan Babineaux celebrates his interception against the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter of an NFL exhibition football game in Seattle, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006. The Seahawks won, 30-7. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) less

Seattle Seahawks' Jordan Babineaux celebrates his interception against the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter of an NFL exhibition football game in Seattle, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006. The Seahawks won, 30-7. ... more

Photo: ELAINE THOMPSON

Photo: ELAINE THOMPSON

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Seattle Seahawks' Jordan Babineaux celebrates his interception against the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter of an NFL exhibition football game in Seattle, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006. The Seahawks won, 30-7. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) less

Seattle Seahawks' Jordan Babineaux celebrates his interception against the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter of an NFL exhibition football game in Seattle, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006. The Seahawks won, 30-7. ... more

Photo: ELAINE THOMPSON

NFL 2006 / NFC PREVIEW / Seahawks will soar, unfettered by 49ers

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Every year, we vow not to predict gloom based on what happens during the exhibition season. We go into this with an open mind. Honest.

When the retooled Alex Smith-led 49ers offense, complete with free-agent acquisitions such as wide receiver Antonio Bryant and guard Larry Allen, scored 28 points in the team's opening exhibition victory, it seemed like a genuine turnaround for the NFL's last-place offense. And imagine how good the 49ers would be once tight end Vernon Davis got going!

Problem is, the worst defense in the NFL last season has looked no better than before. And Smith and Co., which struggled mightily the remainder of the preseason, will have no time to develop chemistry. They'll be too busy playing catch-up. Again. And so will the 49ers in the NFC West. Again.

It's hard to imagine that the defending NFC champion Seahawks (13-3 in '05) won't dominate for a second consecutive year. Seattle sustained some free-agent losses (All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson to the Vikings was a biggie). But the NFL's No. 2-ranked offense also added receiver Nate Burleson, and the defense added former 49er Julian Peterson.

Like the 49ers, the Rams and the Cardinals are in full construction mode with Arizona making the biggest offseason splashes, opening their new retractable roof stadium and signing running back Edgerrin James to a four-year, $30 million free-agent contract.

In St. Louis, the replacement of wacky game planner Mike Martz as head coach with rookie Scott Linehan bears watching.

The questions

-- Can Smith live up to being the No. 1 pick in '05? Smith (40.8 passer rating, worst among NFL starters) took his lumps behind a sorry offensive line. Will new offensive coordinator Norv Turner make everything better?

-- Does Seattle have the same fire it took to make it to the Super Bowl? The last five Super Bowl runners-up failed to make the playoffs the following season.

-- What kind of impact will James have on an Arizona offense that is now infused with balance?

-- Will the Rams take off under the direction of the more sensible Linehan?

Ranking the west

Coaches

1. Mike Holmgren, Seahawks: Great leader, great offensive mind, one of the best motivators around.

2. Dennis Green, Cardinals: Has the experience and the know-how to turn around a lousy Cardinals team, but needs to prove it.

3. Mike Nolan, 49ers: Second-year coach has been part of so many personnel decisions, you wonder how he has time to game plan.

4. Scott Linehan, Rams: Rookie head coach inherits a team accustomed to a playbook twice as thick as the one he's offering. His first-team offense scored no preseason TDs. Is he dumbing down or dulling down?

Quarterbacks

1. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks: Made steady rise from obscurity to Pro Bowler and leader of a team that enjoyed an 11-game winning streak. Under the tutelage of former Seahawk Jim Zorn, Hasselbeck is the class of the division.